gombeen

[ gom-been ]

noun

, Irish English.

1. usury.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gombeen¹

1860–65; < Irish gaimbín interest, especially exorbitant interest, literally, bit, small piece, diminutive of gamba lump, hunk

Example Sentences

Gombeen man; a usurer who lends money to small farmers and others of like means, at ruinous interest.

From Project Gutenberg

For the name of this grisly and terribly real spectre is gombeen; which, in the Irish tongue, signifies usury.

From Project Gutenberg

This poor innocent was charging just 60 per cent., but his terms were lavishly liberal as compared with those of the gombeen man.

From Project Gutenberg

At Burtonport we found the “Gombeen man,” of Dungloe, represented by a very large “store.”

From Project Gutenberg

The priest and the “Gombeen man” deal with them on the old principle of “freedom of contract.”

From Project Gutenberg